It’s a week to be nostalgic with the grand old men of British jazz filling Symphony Hall with happy sounds on Thursday evening.

The Giants Of Jazz is the title, and those giants are Acker Bilk with his Paramount Jazz Band. Humphrey Lyttelton and his band, and Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen.

Will we hear Stranger on the Shore from Acker? And Midnight in Moscow from Kenny? There’ll be a grey revolt in the circle seats if we don’t!

The trad and New Orleans styles that were born near the beginning of the last century and were just as popular when these men were topping the charts in the 1960s endure still, with countless bands in pubs around the country still setting feet a-tapping.

To see and hear how the masters do it, and to be reminded that jazz has to be the most excellent anti-ageing agent on the market, head for Symphony Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday. Tickets for the Giants of Jazz concert, raging from #14.50 to #22.50, are available from the Symphony Hall box office on 0121 780 3333.

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There’s action in Stafford with a fine programme of jazz on alternate Thursdays at The Surgery. Osian Roberts and Steve Fishwick have already appeared and next up this Thursday is Gilad Atzmon. Future gigs include Jamie O’Donnell and Drive. The Surgery is at 35 Crabbery Street, Stafford, and you can find out more on Venue box office 01785 605605.

In fact Thursday is the favoured night this week, with young mainstream singer Alice Coulham appearing with the Brian Dee band (Mark Crooks on reeds, Len Skeat on bass) at the George Hotel in Lichfield. This is a West Midlands Jazz Club International gig and you can buy tickets from Lichfield Tourist Office on 01543 412121 or at the hotel, 01543 414822. It starts at 8.30pm and the house is usually full so book now.

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Friday’s Rush Hour Blues session in the Foyer Bar at Symphony Hall features the Xtet, a band of varying size led by Walsall Jazz Orchestra pianist and composer, the tall man, Tim Amann.

Tim is one of those consistently fine players and writers with a modest disposition who just gets on with the job. Such musicians are easy to take for granted. Let’s not. Hear Tim and the band from 5.30pm. And it’s free.

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On Saturday the stalwarts of the Waterworks Jazz Club present New Orleans Heat. It’s an accomplished band playing the style set by Chris Blount; with influences from George Lewis and Kid Thomas, so they tell me.

More foot-tapping assured. The Waterworks club meet at the United Services Club, Gough Street, Birmingham. It starts at 8pm. Call 0121 3546059 for more details.

On Sunday the dynamic and adventurous pianist Robert Mitchell plays The Live Box, from 7.45pm at The Drum. #5 (#3) to get in and a bargain at that price. More on 0121 333 2444.

News and views by email, please, to pl_bacon@yahoo.co.uk. Also, check out the Jazz Breakfast blog.